Post-office box.



No..'770,747. PATENTED SEPT. 27, 1904. W. 6L M. H. FOLSOM.

POST OFFICE BOX. i APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 6. 1902. RENEWED FEB. 19, 1904.

No MODEL.

. l wm v""" i-.ll lllllll...

WITNESSES:

MM Wwf UNITED STATES Patented September 27, 1904.

PATENT EEICE.

POST-OFFICE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,747,

dated September 27',` 1904.

Application filed March 6, 1902. Renewed February 19, 1904:. 3erl NO- 194,436. (No model.)

To all whom 1li; may concern:

Beit known that we, WILLIAM FoLsoM and MARY HEsTER FoLsoM, both citizens of the United States, residing at Pilotrock, in the county of Umatilla and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Post-Office Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a cabinet or case for containing classiiied mail-matter, including letters, newspapers, &c., and has for its object to provide an improved structure of the class described which will possess advantage in point of convenience, simplicity, effectiveness, and general efficiency.

Another object of our invention is to facilitate the ready and orderly classification of both letter and newspaper mail and permit any box of each particular tier to be quickly moved into a position suitable for ready access irrespective of the position and movement of the other tiers of boxes.

Another object of our invention is to provide for the easy and stable erection and support of the improved cabinet or case in position and the free and noiseless movement of the revolving parts thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical elevation of a mail cabinet or case embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical ectional view of the construction disclosed in ig. l.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

As developed in the drawings, the improved mail cabinet or case comprises generally a central vertical support upon which are-revolubly mounted circular sections each containing radially-extending boxes or compartments designed for the reception of mail and to which access may be had at the periphery of each section. The circular sections above the table are preferably arranged in upper and lower groups, those of the former being of greater diameter to provide more ample boxes or compartments for the reception of newspapers, the elevated position of such newspaper boxes or compartments serving to permit the important and more frequently used letter-boxes to be more conveniently located,

as well as avoiding interference by the large sections, as would be the case if they occupied a lower plane. Each section presents a circular horizontal tier of boxes or compartments. With a view of enabling two or more attendants to work in connection with the cabinet at one time each section is supported to revolve independent of the others, so that access may be had to compartments of diiferent sections without interference. Each section is sustained upon ball-bearings to render it easily and noiselessly revoluble.

In the form shown in the drawings, and which is desired'may be the preferred form, our invention comprises a vertical rod or standard 1, which is securely supported by a A base 2. Upon the rod l is a collar 3, which can be secured at any height by a clampingscrew 4. 'Ihe upper part 3 of the collar is enlarged and has a plane top 5, provided with an annular groove or channel 5a. p

6 refers to one of the circular sections, four others, 7, 8, 9, and 13, being also shown. The section 6 comprises the circular vtop and bottom plates 6u 6b, of comparatively extended diameter and having central openings for the passage of the rod. The plates 6a 6b are connected together by a central vertical drum 6c, from which radiates a series of vertical partitions 6d, forming a circular series of boxes or compartments 6e` \open at the outer ends. In the bottom of the section 6 is secured a circular metal plate 6g, of a size'and character corresponding somewhat with the top 5 of the collar 3, but reversed relative thereto, so that steel balls 10 will be conjointly confined by the grooves or channels of both surfaces, so as to afford a ball-bearing on which the section 6 will be revolubly supported. Below the section 6, the lowest of the series, it is desirable to have a table-top 14 of such diameter that it will horizontally project beyond the compartments to constitute an annular ledge or shelf on which mail-matter may rest for temporary purposes, and below the table-top 14 the section 13, connected and divided into mail-compartments similarly to section 6, but of larger size to accommodate packages of merchandise, is revolubly mounted on the rod l. rIhe top of the section 6 and the bot- IOO tom of the section 7 have steel plates 7 l 7b, with interposed balls, to provide the section 7 with a ball-bearing support. Said section 7 is connected and divided into mail-compartments similarly to the section 6. On the rod l above the section 7 is a collar lO, similar to the collar 3 and clamped in the same manner by a screw 10". The top Il of the collar lO coacts with a plate and interposed balls to afford a ball-bearing for the lower of the large circular sections 8 9, between which are metal plates and balls to provide a relative ballbearing. The top of each of the sections 6, 7, 8, 9, and 13 is provided at its edge with plates or tablets 12, which have designating .characters applying to the respective compartments below for facilitating the classification of the mail.

In use the collars 3 and l0 will be adjusted and rigidly secured on the rod at such 'points as will revolubly and conveniently support the several sections. As thus positioned any section may be revolved independently of the others to place mail in or remove it from any particular compartment of the series presented by said section. Obviously as the character of the matter for which the compartments of the smaller sections 6 7 are employed is the most important and more frequently used they occupy the low altitude, and are consequentl-y more conveniently at hand. Furthermore, the ample capacity needed for the purposes of the sections 8 9 results in their being of greater dimensions. Hence it will, as before intimated, be desirable that they be located above the letter-containing sections, so

as to not in any way interfere with free access to the latter.

By employing the distinct collar `l() the lower sections are relieved of the-weight of the upper, which is instead borne by the rod. The diameters of the several sections will vary according to the number and capacity of the mail-compartments to be provided. When, as illustrated, two sections are intended for the letter-mail, there will be a compartment for each letter of the alphabet, besides eXtra ones for dead letters and other purposes, as maybe found desirable. The number and capacity of the upper sections will also be provided for with regard to the character of the mail they are designed to contain. The connecting-drum of each section not only conduces to the rigid construction of the same, but serves to form a vertical inner end wall for each compartment and prevent the mail from being objectionably shoved too far into the same.

We do not desire to be understood as limiting ourselves to the details of construction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications may be made in the features of construction and arrangement in the adaptation of the improved, cabinet or case to various conditions of use without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention and improvements. We therefore reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the scope of our invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described our invention. we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A revolving mail-cabinet comprising a base, a standard rising therefrom, a plurality ofvertically-adjustable collars on said standard, a circular table supported on the lowermost collar, a circular revoluble section divided into compartments by radial partitions, supported on the collar above said table, and a circular revoluble section divided into compartments by radial partitions, and of relatively larger diameter than the revolving section below it, and supported to revolve independently of the latter, upon the uppermost collar of the standard.

2. A revolving mail-cabinet, comprising a base, a standard rising therefrom, a plurality of collars secured adjustably upon the standard, a circular table supported on the lowermost collar, a revoluble letter-section divided by radial partitions into compartments, and supported upon the collar above the table, a revoluble newspaper section of relatively larger diameter than the letter-section, and also divided by radial partitions, and supported upon the uppermost collar of the standard,and a revoluble package-section supported on the base below the table.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM FOLSOM. MARY HESTER FOLSOM. Witnesses:

A. B. JANES, JOHN S. AITKEN.

IOO 

